In this article, the authors are interested to know whether male and female students in the Netherland perceive the curriculum differently. The following research question was guided this study: Can gender-specific student factors be identified in relation to the initial teacher education curriculum that leads to the differences in the dropout rate? The authors found gender differences in student factors as well as in the way male and female students perceive the curriculum. Concerning the student factors, males and females differ in professional motivation and expectations concerning the curriculum at the start of their training and after two-and-a-half years.